The traditional Iranian new year, Nouroz is observed in Iran, Northern Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, India, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea and the Balkans. It marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Baha'i year. Norooz is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, on or around March 21.